Life on Fire

On a remote island of New Britain animals and plants have learned to live with the sporadic anger of the Earth In this apocalyptic realm when the ash created by volcanic eruptions invades their habitat the choice is simple leave or stay and face the unknown

All around the world there are active volcanoes that are a threat to the populations settled at their feet To avoid disasters volcanologists are asked to anticipate and warn for the volcanoes slightest tremors Around the world these volcano doctors use their tools and knowledge protect those who live in the path of the Earths fire

In the vast emptiness of the Pacific Ocean tectonic movements construct or destroy islands In the Tongan archipelago two littleknown animals have learnt to cope with these ephemeral lands The sooty tern is a seabird that never dares wet its wings for fear of drowning The Alvin shrimp is a blind crustacean that nonetheless manages to find its way around the abyss

In 2010 the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland provoked vast economic chaos by paralyzing one of the worlds major air traffic networks for several days Through spectacular aerial footage scientists try to understand which volcano could wake up next and what the consequences of a major eruption are likely to be

Nicaragua is home to Masaya a huge volcano that has been active for over 30000 years During its long life it has caused some of the largest eruptions in history The surrounding landscape has been created from lava ash and gas while at its center lies a desolate empty land Each time the Masaya volcano destroys everything around it life returns reemerging from the ash at its feet

In Alaska the fresh water that feeds the rivers is snowmelt from North Americas highest mountains and most active volcanoes Time and again they erupt and poison the rivers Scientists have only just begun to piece together what might have happened nearly 2000 years ago when one race of salmon faced the death of their natal river and were forced back to the open ocean